Cycle for Survival Invests $34 Million in Rare Cancer Research in 2017

NEW YORK, Sept. 1, 2017 – Cycle for Survival, the movement to beat rare cancers, announced funding plans for the $34 million raised in 2017 by its extraordinary community. 100 percent of this record-breaking total goes to rare cancer research and clinical trials to improve how cancer is diagnosed and treated.

Cycle for Survival’s annual indoor team cycling events, led by instructors from the movement’s founding partner Equinox, took place in February and March in 16 cities across the country. It was a banner year with more participants, donors, fundraising events and money raised than ever before. Within six months, donations go to the most promising initiatives led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), which owns and operates Cycle for Survival. The allocations cover a variety of cancer types and innovative treatment approaches, including:

Computational Oncology
Precision Prevention
The Center for Epigenetics
The Center for Hematologic Malignancies
The Center for Molecular Oncology
The Departments of Pediatrics
The Equinox Innovation Initiative
The Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program
The Precision Pathology Biobanking Center
The Sarcoma Service

The Equinox Innovation Initiative was established at MSK in 2016 to honor Equinox’s unwavering commitment and long-time partnership with Cycle for Survival in support of rare cancer research. The focus of the initiative is Cycle for Survival’s distinguished research awards that are presented annually to MSK’s top physicians and scientists through a competitive application process conducted by the institution. The grants are funded by money raised by Cycle for Survival participants each year.

One groundbreaking area of research receiving Cycle for Survival funding this year is the study of precision prevention, led by Luis Diaz, MD. MSK is a leader in personalized medicine, and Cycle for Survival continues to support this critical work through a variety of projects—now including the prevention and early detection of cancer.

Cycle for Survival has raised $140 million since it was founded in 2007, with $110 million of that total raised in the past four years. Every dollar goes to research to make a direct and powerful impact for patients. About half of all cancer patients are fighting a rare cancer, and they often face limited or no treatment options. Rare cancers include brain, ovarian, pancreatic, leukemia, lymphoma, all pediatric cancers and many other types.

To learn about the 2017 funding allocations and specific research breakthroughs made possible because of Cycle for Survival, go to www.cycleforsurvival.org/what-you-fund.

The Cycle for Survival community will never stop fighting until all cancer patients have effective treatment options. Registration for the 2018 signature rides opens this month. Cycle for Survival will celebrate its 12th year with the Times Square Takeover kick-off event on September 27. To learn more and sign up for Cycle for Survival’s e-mail updates, visit www.cycleforsurvival.org.